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Samsung HZ15W vs Sony RX100 IV

Portability
90
Imaging
35
Features
31
Overall
33
Samsung HZ15W front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IV front
Portability
89
Imaging
52
Features
79
Overall
62

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony RX100 IV Key Specs

Samsung HZ15W
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-240mm (F3.3-5.8) lens
  • 249g - 105 x 61 x 37mm
  • Released February 2009
  • Other Name is WB550
Sony RX100 IV
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 125 - 12800 (Increase to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-70mm (F1.8-2.8) lens
  • 298g - 102 x 58 x 41mm
  • Launched June 2015
  • Older Model is Sony RX100 III
  • Later Model is Sony RX100 V
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Samsung HZ15W vs Sony RX100 IV Overview

In this write-up, we are comparing the Samsung HZ15W and Sony RX100 IV, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Large Sensor Compact by rivals Samsung and Sony. There is a noticeable difference between the image resolutions of the HZ15W (12MP) and RX100 IV (20MP) and the HZ15W (1/2.3") and RX100 IV (1") use different sensor measurements.

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The HZ15W was introduced 7 years earlier than the RX100 IV and that is quite a sizable difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Samsung HZ15W being a Compact camera and the Sony RX100 IV being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before going through a in-depth comparison, below is a quick synopsis of how the HZ15W scores vs the RX100 IV with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Samsung HZ15W over the Sony RX100 IV

 HZ15W RX100 IV 

Reasons to pick Sony RX100 IV over the Samsung HZ15W

 RX100 IV HZ15W 
LaunchedJune 2015February 2009Fresher by 76 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1229k460kCrisper display (+769k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Samsung HZ15W and Sony RX100 IV

 HZ15W RX100 IV 
Focus manually More precise focus
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurements
Touch friendly display Neither comes with Touch friendly display

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony RX100 IV Physical Comparison

When you are going to carry your camera often, you're going to have to take into account its weight and measurements. The Samsung HZ15W comes with physical dimensions of 105mm x 61mm x 37mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.5") having a weight of 249 grams (0.55 lbs) while the Sony RX100 IV has proportions of 102mm x 58mm x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6") along with a weight of 298 grams (0.66 lbs).

Look at the Samsung HZ15W and Sony RX100 IV in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are using during that time. The following is the front view sizing comparison of the HZ15W versus the RX100 IV.

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony RX100 IV size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the HZ15W and RX100 IV is 90 and 89 respectively.

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony RX100 IV top view buttons comparison

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony RX100 IV Sensor Comparison

Usually, its tough to picture the difference between sensor sizing just by reviewing specs. The photograph here should provide you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the HZ15W and RX100 IV.

As you can plainly see, both of those cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The HZ15W having a tinier sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF tougher and the Sony RX100 IV will offer you greater detail using its extra 8MP. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop images far more aggressively. The older HZ15W is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony RX100 IV sensor size comparison

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony RX100 IV Screen and ViewFinder

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony RX100 IV Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Samsung HZ15W Portrait photography information
Sony RX100 IV Portrait photography information
32
manual focus
features face detection autofocus
manual mode not possible
cannot use external flash
MP count low (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
65
focusing manually
great flash sync speed (1/2,000 seconds)
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (1")
supports face detect focus
delivers RAW formats
cannot use external flash
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Street Comparison

Samsung HZ15W Street photography advice
Sony RX100 IV Street photography advice
53
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
screen is fixed
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
more heavy than others in class (249 grams)
85
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is nice (1")
delivers RAW formats
lighter than competition in class (298 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Samsung HZ15W
Sports photography with Sony RX100 IV
27
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
no shutter priority mode
MP count low (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
68
silent shooting (1/32,000s)
high frames per second (16.0 frames per second)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
sensor size is nice (1")
supports tracking focus
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Samsung HZ15W as a Travel photography camera
Sony RX100 IV as a Travel photography camera
54
built-in flash
decently wide (24mm)
does not have Timelapse recording
more heavy than others in class (249g)
MP count low (12MP)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
86
lighter than competition in class (298g)
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
flash built-in
display is selfie friendly
reasonably wide (24mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Samsung HZ15W Landscape photography advice
Sony RX100 IV Landscape photography advice
41
manual focus
decently wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
manual mode not possible
MP count low (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
does not have Timelapse recording
74
focusing manually
reasonably wide (24mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
nice screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (1")
delivers RAW formats
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
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Vlogging Comparison

Samsung HZ15W Vlogging advice
Sony RX100 IV Vlogging advice
29
decently wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detection autofocus
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have external microphone port
more heavy than others in class (249g)
81
reasonably wide (24mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
display is selfie friendly
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect focus
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 pxls)
lighter than competition in class (298 grams)
no mic socket
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Samsung HZ15W vs Sony RX100 IV Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Samsung HZ15W and Sony RX100 IV
 Samsung HZ15WSony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IV
General Information
Brand Name Samsung Sony
Model type Samsung HZ15W Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IV
Otherwise known as WB550 -
Category Small Sensor Compact Large Sensor Compact
Released 2009-02-23 2015-06-10
Physical type Compact Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Processor - Bionz X
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1"
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 20MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4000 x 3000 5472 x 3648
Maximum native ISO 3200 12800
Maximum enhanced ISO - 25600
Lowest native ISO 80 125
RAW format
Lowest enhanced ISO - 80
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points - 25
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-240mm (10.0x) 24-70mm (2.9x)
Maximum aperture f/3.3-5.8 f/1.8-2.8
Macro focusing range 5cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 2.7
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 460 thousand dots 1,229 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.59x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 16s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/2000s
Fastest silent shutter speed - 1/32000s
Continuous shutter rate - 16.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 4.70 m -
Flash settings Auto, Auto & Red-eye reduction, Fill-in flash, Slow sync, Flash off, Red eye fix -
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize - 1/2000s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (60, 30, 15 fps) 3840 x 2160 (30p, 25p, 24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p/60i/24p), 1280 x 720 (60p/30p/24p/120p), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 3840x2160
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 249 grams (0.55 lb) 298 grams (0.66 lb)
Dimensions 105 x 61 x 37mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.5") 102 x 58 x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 70
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.9
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.6
DXO Low light rating not tested 562
Other
Battery life - 280 shots
Battery type - Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (10 sec, 2 sec, Double, Motion Timer) Yes
Time lapse recording With downloadable app
Storage type SC/SDHC/MMC/MMCplus, internal SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Pricing at release $330 $898